People's Democracy

Coal Workers For Countrywide Struggle Against Privatisation

OVER 600 delegates from all the coal mines of India expressed their firm determination to fight against privatisation of coal industry through a phased programme of action. This was resolved at a convention jointly organised by Indian National Mine Workers Federation (INTUC), All India Coal Workers Federation (CITU), Indian Mine Workers Federation (AITUC), Hind Khadan Mazdoor Federation (HMS) and Akhil Bharatiya Khadan Mazdoor Sangh(BMS) in Kolkata University Centenary Hall on August 26, 2007.

Tajendra Pd Singh, president, INMWF while welcoming the delegates expressed grave concern at the situation prevailing in coal industry which has dangerous implications for the growth of public sector undertakings as well as working and living conditions of 6 lakh coal miners all over India.

The convention elected a presidium consisting of S Q Zaina (INTUC), S K Bakshi (CITU), Nathulal Pandey (HMS), S K Pandey (BMS) and Krishna Modi (AITUC).

REMARKABLE UNITY

M K Pandhe, president, CITU in his introductory speech welcomed the remarkable unity achieved by the entire TU movement in coal industry to resist the privatisation drive of the government of India and the management of coal Industry. He pointed out that the government of India could not get the Bill to denationalise the coal mines passed in parliament due to the threat of indefinite strike by all the five federations in coal industry. However, the government had been resorting to backdoor privatisation in a clandestine manner. Over 150 coal blocks having reserves of billions of tonnes of coal are being offered to private parties on the plea that Coal India would not be able to meet the demand for coal in the Tenth Five Year Plan. The reckless outsourcing and contractorisation by use of cheap labour is being resorted to while the number of regular employees has been brought down through the mechanism of Voluntary Retirement Scheme. He appealed to all coal miners to join hands to fight the menace through broad based movement all over India to compel the managements to reverse the detrimental course of action.

Ramendra Kumar, AITUC leader noted that the government of India nationalised the coal mines since private sector failed to increase the production of coal and was mercilessly exploiting the coal workers. The steps taken by Mohan Kumaramangalam to revitalise the coal industry are being negated by the government to handover the coal mines once again to unscrupulous contractors.

Nathulal Pandey, HMS leader described the harrowing working conditions of the coal miners working under contractors and noted that no labour laws are implemented by the managements.

NO TO TEN YEAR SETTLEMENT

S K Pandey of BMS criticized the directive of the coal ministry for signing a 10-year settlement this time as against 5-years signed last time and pointed out the coal workers will resort to direct action if the government of India insisted for a 10-year settlement.

S Q Zama of the INTUC listed several pending issues of the coal miners which remained unattended by the coal management and observed that they can be resolved only through a determined struggles by the coal miners.

S K Bakshi of CITU criticised the policy of the government of India to start production of coal in foreign countries and closing down the mines in India. He stated that huge quantity of coal is produced by illegal mining due to connivance of mafias, coal managements and state government officials.

C B Frank of BMS criticised the policy of imports of around 30 million tonnes of coal and pointed out that Coal India can produce all the national requirement if only government of India provides necessary investment to the industry.

Several speakers coming from coal mines in various coal companies spoke about the deteriorating working conditions in coal mines and the callousness of the managements in dealing with the problem of coal workers. They noted the decline in welfare measures for coal miners and bad housing conditions for the workers. The rampant corruption prevailing in mines was resulting in loss of valuable resources of the public sector coal workers.

The spectacular urge for unity was reflected through the speeches of rank and file workers who wanted a determined struggle to force the unwilling managements to take steps to improve the lot of workers. They emphasised the need to strengthen the existing unity so that the working and living conditions in coal mines can be improved through pressure of mass movement.

The speakers demanded that there should be national uniform wage for the entire coal industry, both in public and private sector undertakings, to prevent unfair competition. They also advocated that the outsourced and contract workers should be paid identical wages in the coal industry.

The speakers also drew the attention of the convention to the loss of about 200 lives due to several accidents in coal mines. Several thousand workers are injured in mine accidents while the dreaded disease of pneumoconiosis is making thousands of workers maimed every year.

PROGRAMME OF ACTION

The convention unanimously adopted a declaration which highlighted the gravity of the situation and how the government of India’s policies are making the situation worse. Hence the convention chalked out the following phased programme of action to pressurise the government of India and Coal India managements to pay urgent attention to improve the lot of coal workers.

1. National Protest Day: On September 27, 2007, the unions will observe a National Protest Day in all the coal mines opposing the policy of privatisation, outsourcing and contractorisation. Protest rallies, wearing of black badges etc. will be organised by all the unions unitedly.

2. Organising Company-level Conventions: In the first week of November 2007 company-level conventions will be organised jointly by all the unions highlighting the pressing demands of the coal workers.

3. Joint Demonstrations Before Company Headquarters: On November 20, 2007 all unions will jointly hold protest demonstrations at the company headquarters to focus attention of the demands raised by the five federations and demand their immediate settlement.

4. Demonstration Before CIL Headquarters: On December 20, 2007 a massive demonstration will be held in front of Coal India Headquarters. If by that time the issues of the workers are not settled, the trade unions will announce further programme of industrial action including strike action.

The Declaration and the programme was unanimously approved by the convention amidst shouting of slogans jointly by workers of all the unions.

The convention generated enthusiasm among the delegation who expressed their determination to carry forward the struggle still their demands are achieved. (INN)